Maximizing Transportation Technology
Avoiding Stories Like
“The Secret Life of Lemmings” by Hugo First
MSTPA Conference
Tuscaloosa, AL
March 8 – 10, 2010
What’s Important about Transportation Technology?What technologies will meet operational challenges and answer questions?
Avoiding the feature buzz – focus on the steak not the sizzle.
Marketing and communicating technology benefits to passengers.
WIFFM – Transit TechnologyObjectives, Objectives,
ObjectivesKey Components of Transit
Technology SuitesCreating Need To Have Vs
Nice To Have ChecklistRFP and Selection Process
Focus on Objectives – Not FeaturesProblem to Solve?
Focus on main issue.Willingness to Pay?
Budget and desire to fund.Perfect Destroy the Good?
Determine the minimum requirements for success and increase from there.
Alternative ApproachesThere is more than one
way to get from point A to B.
Transit Technology SuiteGPS Routing & Dispatch
GPS/AVL
Tracking
Digital Destination
Signs
Passenger
Counting
Rolling Interne
t
On Board Video
Announcement Systems
Electronic Inspection
GPS/AVL Tracking – The Grandaddy of Transit Technology
Everything Begins with Vehicle Location and Movement TrackingRoutes, idling, delays, speed, time between stops.Location of events from complementary systems.
Component Decision
Data Frequency How often the system reports location (cost Vs. information)
Reporting Capabilities
How much information is needed and what will it be used for? Specific reports like frequency, average speed, bus stop times
Management or Passengers
Transit visualization for passengers most important or management tracking and control
Compatibility How well will it integrate with other systems?
Required Options Cell phone access, routing optimization, driver input, panic buttons, public viewer, etc.
Technology ChecklistPriority
Technology Decision Points
Rolling Internet
>Length of trips >Makeup of passenger community – will it be used?
Digital Destination Signs
>How often buses change routes >Experience of passengers>Number and complexity of routes at institution
Passenger Intelligence (Counting)
>Count only number of people on buses by time, route, stop>Need to know affiliation or origination of passengers>Passenger validation for security and/or access control>System size, number of buses, information retrieval requirements
On Board Video
>Security and liability issues, history of transportation system>High number of unaffiliated or general public passengers>Used as a training or counseling tool for drivers
Announcement Systems
>Complexity of routes >Passenger profile – infrequent or incidental users of the system>Automated announcements Vs internal display signs
Electronic Inspection
>Medium to large fleets, multiple storage locations>Need to verify pre and post trip inspections for liability
and performance management
Technology SelectionRFP Design
Straightforward requirementsAllow for reasonable
alternatives Focus on objectives not strict
interpretationAvoid getting stung by the
Feature Buzz Stick to important aspects Ignore unnecessary and
expensive compatibility and modularity
Inspect & Validate Responses Don’t get a camel when you ask
for an automobile…
Marketing Transportation Technology Find Reasons To Explain All
Technology Video (Safety, Training) GPS Tracking(Safety,
Convenience) Passenger Counting
Use the Tool Itself Wherever Possible Demonstrations Trial Runs/Participate in
Purchasing Provide Reason for Passengers
to Use It Registration in system that
provides further information Contests
Create Ambassadors Student Government Special Interest Groups Passengers
Integrate with Passenger Interests
Clubs, classes, hobbies. Internships
Public Relations Press Releases Articles White Papers
Use Everything Repetition Email, Website, Posters, Text
Messaging, Twitter, Facebook
How Many Jellybeans are In This Bus?
• I have no idea…but I can tell you how many people are on it every day because of our new Automated Passenger Counting system.
• Why Does This Matter to You???• Better bus deployment – how many buses
should be on each route…• Determine how often to pick up at key
stops.• Faster service and fewer passengers left
behind
Discussion…Questions? Answers!
Transit
Technolog
y Gets Me
Rolling…
Contact Me Any Time…Mitch SkyerSolstice Transportation Group
www.SolsticeTransportationGroup.com